Many major cities are facing a housing crisis as they cannot provide enough land for new buildings. Some local governments believe the problem could be solved by reassigning park land for residential development, because this land would be better used for housing. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Urban migration is causing extreme pressure on housing and infrastructure and,

consequently

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, some people feel that public

parks

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have become a luxury that we can no longer afford.

While

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it is true that green areas can take up a lot of space, the

benefits

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to the residents of a

city

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and to the environment are too numerous to ignore. It is undeniable that

parks

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provide valuable leisure amenities – a place to picnic, walk, kick a ball, play with the children, or just relax.

Besides

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this

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, recent research has shown that they

also

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provide appreciable health

benefits

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by allowing people to engage with nature, which enhances their mental well-being and lowers their stress levels. Consider

also

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that, with the rising epidemic of obesity, it is more important than ever to make space available for physical exercise. The bonus of exercising in a natural setting, rather than going to a gym or jogging on urban streets, is that not only does the body benefit from the physical activity but anxiety and depression are alleviated as well. It is reported that the

overall

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effect of “green exercise” is better fitness, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and greater tranquillity.

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, for lower socio-economic groups,

parks

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are an affordable way to improve health and participate in social interaction.

City

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planners should

also

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consider environmental

benefits

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before deciding to sacrifice parkland for construction. Trees improve air quality by removing pollutants and filtering the air.

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, if

parks

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are located alongside urban waterways, they help keep the water clean by absorbing contaminated runoff from the

city

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’s hard surfaces. In conclusion,

although

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I appreciate the problem, I wholeheartedly disagree with the view that

parks

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should be used to mitigate housing shortages in cities. They offer significant health and recreation

benefits

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to the people and improve the

overall

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climate and environment of the

city

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. If space is truly at a premium,

city

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officials would do better to look at reducing the urban sprawl of shopping malls and parking lots.